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Northern lights Maine tonight

Maine sits at ~54°N magnetic latitude - the southernmost reliable aurora state in New England. Kp 5 is the threshold from Acadia National Park and northern Maine. The dark skies of Aroostook County and Moosehead Lake give the best lower-Kp positions in the state. Best season: September to April.

Aurora visibility — Maine

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Maine.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Maine: Kp 5 Magnetic latitude: ~54°N Updated: 10 May, 11:06 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Maine sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 54°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 5, visibility is possible from Maine but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Best dark sky sites near Maine

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

Acadia National Park

A national park on Mount Desert Island, Maine. The park is officially designated an International Dark Sky Park. Cadillac Mountain at 466 m - the highest point on the US Atlantic coast - gives elevated coastal sky view to the north and east. The rocky shoreline and surrounding ocean give an unusually open horizon for New England. Popular with aurora photographers on strong Kp nights.

Aroostook County (The County)

Northern Maine's vast agricultural region near the Canadian border. The potato-farming flatlands have minimal settlement and very low light pollution - Bortle 3-4. The area sits at 47°N geographic latitude (54°N magnetic) and is one of the northernmost points in the continental USA. Access via Route 1 north of Houlton.

Moosehead Lake region

The largest lake in Maine, 60 km long, in the remote interior. The lake is surrounded by wilderness with no major towns. Greenville at the southern end is the gateway. The lake's open north shore gives clear sky views. The area is popular for moose watching, snowmobiling in winter, and aurora chasing during strong events.

Other USA aurora forecasts

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Related pages

Northern Lights USA

USA-wide aurora forecast hub.

Northern Lights Michigan Tonight

Michigan Upper Peninsula - Lake Superior dark sky, similar aurora threshold.

Northern Lights Minnesota Tonight

Minnesota - Boundary Waters, the best dark sky in the northern tier.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 5 means for viewing at 54°N magnetic latitude.

Northern Lights Photography

Camera settings for Acadia coastal aurora photography.

Common questions

Aurora watching in Maine - Acadia, Aroostook, and New England aurora.

Can you see the northern lights in Maine?
Yes, during strong geomagnetic storms. Maine sits at ~54°N magnetic latitude - at the southern threshold of reliable aurora territory in the lower 48. Kp 5 from Acadia National Park or northern Maine. During G3+ storms (Kp 6+), aurora is visible across Maine including Portland. The dark skies of Aroostook County and Moosehead Lake give the best lower-threshold conditions.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Maine?
Kp 5 from Acadia National Park or the dark sky areas of northern Maine. Kp 6 for aurora visible from Bangor or Portland. At 54°N magnetic latitude, Maine is at the southern edge of regular aurora territory in the eastern USA - Kp 5 events (G1 storms) occur about 20-30 times per year and are the target threshold. Strong G2-G3 storms produce reliable displays.
Is Acadia National Park a good aurora spot?
Yes for its latitude. Acadia is an International Dark Sky Park and one of the few easily accessible coastal dark sky areas in New England. Cadillac Mountain's 466 m summit, accessible by a paved road, gives elevated sky above the coastal fog layer that sometimes affects lower positions. The rock coast scenery gives excellent aurora foreground subjects. For the best chance in New England, Aroostook County in northern Maine is higher latitude but less accessible.
When is the best time to see aurora in Maine?
September to April. Maine's autumn (September-October) and spring (March-April) are the most geomagnetically active periods and give manageable temperatures. Winter gives longer nights but coastal New England weather is highly variable with frequent cloud cover from Atlantic systems. The interior (Moosehead Lake, Aroostook) has clearer skies more often than the coast.
What happened during the May 2024 aurora in New England?
The G5 geomagnetic storm of May 10-11, 2024 - the strongest in 20 years - pushed the auroral oval far south, producing aurora visible across the entire continental USA including Florida. In Maine, the display was visible from beaches, backyards, and cities. The colors were vivid even at low Kp thresholds. Events like this are rare (once per solar cycle at this intensity) but demonstrate that Maine is well-positioned when conditions are exceptional.